Tribunal voids Orji (Abia state gov) says he faild to prove beyond resoanble doubt that he is not a cult member, then give the mandate to Onyema Ugochukwu (pdp),
my question:
1 is it the duty of the tribunal to screen and investigate?
2screening and inestigation of such is it done before or after election
3 was the tribunal able to prove beyond reasonble doubt that he is  a cult member (because i will like to how thy dd it)

News[b] from Africa

25/02/2008 12:35 LAGOS, Feb 25 (AFP)
Nigeria court voids another state governor election: report


A Nigerian tribunal Monday voided the election of another state governor, Theodore Orji of the eastern Abia state, voted into office in April 2007, Channels television reported.

The tribunal, in the Abia state capital Umuahia, ruled that Orji, from the opposition People's Progressive Alliance, had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he is not a member of a notorious secret cult.

The court ordered Orji replaced by Onyema Ugochukwu of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Orji is the latest in a series of state governors to see their elections voided.

Tuesday a tribunal in the federal capital Abuja hearing petitions contesting the results of the April 2007 presidential election will rule on whether Umaru Yar'Adua remains as president.[/b][i][/i]

So PDP truly won in Abia?

Wow.

I'll be damned then!

I thought we were supposed to be laying the tombstone for PDP in Nigeria? It looks like it is getting stronger Post-OBJ third term tricks.

May God continue to help us all!

Amen!

am confused here

Is the tribunal there to determine what happened before or what happened during the election

Is the tribunal there to determine the eligibility of candidate or who won the election

please someone with a copy of the electoral law should educate me oooo

because i dont understand where you declare someone winner and still state that he didnt have majority of the vote cast in the election

almondjoy:

So PDP truly won in Abia?

Wow.

I'll be damned then!

I thought we were supposed to be laying the tombstone for PDP in Nigeria? It looks like it is getting stronger Post-OBJ third term tricks.

May God continue to help us all!

Amen!

No Almondjoy, PDP did not win Abia. According to this "learned" judge, PPA won with an overwhelming majority. But because the governor failed to resign his appointment 30 days to the elections and is allegedly a member of a secret cult, the "overwhelming majority" who voted him as their governor have been disenfranchised while the minority who voted for PDP have now carried the day. Twisted logic if you ask me. I do not think this grossly illogical verdict will stand the test of an appeal because if it does, it will set a dangerous precedent viz: If you lose at the polls, you can still be declared winner if you capitalize on such trivial technicalities as done by this judge. I am not a lawyer but in my own humble and "un-learned" opinion, methinks that this judge, having found as he did that the PPA fielded a candidate that breached certain aspects of the electoral law, should have nullified the election and called for fresh elections from which the incumbent PPA candidate would be excluded and replaced with a more credible candidate. But then again, I am not "learned" now, am I?

In other words PDP finally won.

By hook or by crook!

I dey hail ooooooooooooooh!

Chai!

I guess there is more than one way to skin a cat!

almondjoy:

In other words PDP finally won.

By hook or by crook!

I dey hail ooooooooooooooh!

Chai!

I guess there is more than one way to skin a cat!

The case will still go to Appeal court and i think the postion taken by RETYPE would have been the best way out

Annul the election and conduct fresh one instead declaring a candidate who you rightly noted did not win the voters mandate as winner

that the election was technically flawed by PPA presenting a wrong candidate does not make the person that came second the winner

well, "learned" gentlemen in court of appeal will have the final say

The election was not flawed, PPA's candidate disqualified himself by being a member of a secret cult, as well as not resigning, so by those two counts, he disqualified himself and his party from the race. Its not as if PPA and PDP were the only contestants in the race, but the PPA blew it for themselves, and since Ugochukwu had the second highest number of votes, he is the rightful winner.

Its like saying during a 100m race where Ben Johnson won on drugs, that the race should be rerun? No. Johnson disqualified himself and Carl Lewis becomes the champion.

As to how his membership of a cult organisation was proved, the 'Secretary' Of Okija shrine came to testify, and apparently his testimony withstood the rigors of cross examination.

Most damning of all was a 28 second video clip showing Orji's initiation into the cult WHICH HE DID NOT DENY. Even if we forget the aspect of not resigning, he cannot sit as governor because of the secret cult charge.

too bad